Wilcox, James Edward Jr.

June 20, 2002

WILCOX, James Edward Jr.

James Edward Wilcox, Jr. of Hartford, 57, departed this life all too soon, on Friday, (June 14, 2002). He touched the lives of many, and we are all better people for having James in our world. He was born in Arkansas, and spent many years in Illinois and Pennsylvania. He received his BS in Industrial Technology, and completed masters courses in Safety Engineering, at Illinois State University. James proudly served his country, as a Veteran of the US Army, in Vietnam from 1968-1969. He was an accomplished glass artist, with artwork in the permanent collections at three national museums. James met his true love of 25 years, Julia Zaslow Wilcox, during his tenure as the Glass Artist in Residence, at Carnegie-Mellon University. He also designed and built the glassblowing facility at Case Western University. In 1977, James and Julia established Signature Glassworks, in the Midwest, creating handblown glass, and architectural stained glass. The couple relocated to Hartford in 1984 James was employed as a field sales engineer, with Zaslow Sales Company. Inc. from 1984 to 2000. He began working for Phoenix Contact, Inc. in 2000. James' lifelong inspirations were the mountains and the sea. He was an accomplished rock climber and mountaineer, scaling the Salathe Wall, on El Capitain in Yosemite. James was predeceased by his mother, Maxine Stephens Wilcox, of Illinois. James lives on in the memory of his loved ones; his wife, Julia Zaslow Wilcox; his son, Jay Wilcox; and daughter, Genevieve Wilcox-Meilahn, both of Wisconsin; his father, James Wilcox, Sr. and his partner, Shirley Oelson, of Glenview, IL; his sister and niece, Judith and Alexandra Gelatt, both of Pittsburgh. PA; his brother and his wife, Craig and Sharon Wilcox, and their children, Lauren and Devin, of Pittsburgh, PA; his sister-in-law and her husband, Barbara and Robert Friedman; and their children, Rachel, Daniel and Joshua of West Hartford; His brother-in-law and his wife, Chet and Gwen Zaslow and their daughters, Shara and Joelle of West Hartford; his sister-in-law and her husband, Francine Zaslow and James Lee and their children, Emma and Jourdan of Brookline, MA. A private service will take place at sea. A memorial celebration is planned for August 3, from 5-8 p.m. at Mater Hall, Trinity College in Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: The Ragged Mountain Foundation. PO Box 948, Southington, CT 06489, attn: James Wilcox Memorial Fund, A future, permanent memorial site is planned in James honor,